When not exploring fantastical worlds or relationship dramas, anime has a knack for taking it slow and enjoying the simple things in life. Whether it's paired with comedy or something more quietly contemplative, the slice of life subgenre is episodic, character-focused anime at its best, where story is second to atmosphere.
To be fair to the worthy slice of life anime out there that aren't also comedy mega-hits, we've brought you a mix of series in the subgenre that capture a variety of moods and involve other genres.

What makes it to the top of our slice of life picks is none other than a series where war and conflict are dealt with on a human scale; where grand themes and character drama never take away from its calm atmosphere.

The 1121st Platoon of the Helvetian Army may be underfunded and understaffed, but it's the place new recruit Kanata calls her home. After enlisting in the army to learn the ways of the bugler, she is sent off to meet her five fellow soldiers in an outpost looking over No Man's Land. But the terrors of war and the far-reaching effects of the destroyed world are scars on each of these girls that cannot heal.

So Ra No Wo To is an incredibly short anime that barely has enough time to explore what it wants yet somehow comes out as an incredibly focused, well-paced series that centers on people and their relationships in the world around them.

Why it made the list: So Ra No Wo To makes it to the top of our slice of life list for always keeping the core aspects of the subgenre in mind while exploring themes and situations that have barely been handled in anime like it. It's mature, thoughtful and at times sincerely touching, making it a series you need to at least try out.

Watch if you like: Trumpets, war stories, drama, mystery, post-apocalyptic settings, short series, episodic series, no info-dumping, small cast of characters, character development.

Our first slice of life meets comedy on this list is the artistic shenanigans anime, Barakamon. Combining the fish out of water story we all know with a healthy dose of laughs, learning and heartfelt moments, Barakamon is easily a slice of life favourite.

Handa is a talented calligrapher who has it all, but his quick temper lands him in trouble when he reacts violently to someone dismissing his work. To atone for his actions, Handa is shipped off to a countryside village on the Goto Islands – a place far away from the comfort of the city he knows. There, he must find a moment of peace to focus on his work… if only the entire village would stop bugging him every moment of the day.

Barakamon moves slowly but surely, always keeping strong to its characters and their moments. Handa feels an irreplaceable part of Barakamon as much as everyone else, and their personalities interact in ways that make the show feel one-of-a-kind.

Why it made the list: While Barakamon doesn't have any surprises in way of set-up or antics, the show shines when it comes to the depth of its characters. Although strong on comedy, Barakamon remembers that characters aren't tropes made to play off other tropes – everyone from the children to the old people feel so real that they could pass for an existing village.

Watch if you like: Calligraphy, comedy, countryside setting, small cast of characters, short series, cast with different ages, older main character.

Slice of life anime has a (well-earned) reputation for being calm and thoughtful, and there's nothing more cute and insightful than a man experiencing the joys of parenthood, one step at a time.

Daikichi is a bachelor in his thirties who doesn't have much motivation to do anything besides work. When he finds out that his relatives want nothing to do with his now-deceased grandfather's illegitimate child, Daikichi adopts six-year-old Rin right away. The only issue is that Daikichi has never had to look after everyone, and taking care of a kid is not easy work.

An anime where looking into the manga might not be the best idea, Bunny Drop is a cute look into growing as an adult and what having a child actually entails, minus the world-ending drama that you may have come to expect from the premise.

Why it made the list: Like the movie Wolf Children, Bunny Drop is a series that gets to the heart of what it means to be a parent. Rather than throwing in big dramatic points or pulling things out of nowhere, it's a mostly calm series about the real pitfalls of being a new single parent.

Slice of life means a focus on the everyday mundane activities we all have to go through. Hanasaku Iroha takes this and explores the exciting world of hospitality, but ties in more interesting aspects like family and growing up.

Ohana comes from a family of headstrong women who all have their direction in life. Being sixteen, though, Ohana isn't too sure of where she's going or what she wants to do. All that changes when her mother forces her to live at an old Japanese inn in the countryside, run by her grandmother. Far from the city, Ohana learns about responsibility, romance and growing up.

Hanasaku Iroha is perhaps longer than it should be. For a decent part, the series focuses on something of a usual romantic drama but when you get into it, the series blossoms into a drama about all kinds of relationships with all kinds of people.

Why it made the list: Hanasaku Iroha is more than a scenic look at the ups and downs of a struggling inn. More than a tale of romance or growing up, Hanasaku Iroha is about family and slowly maturing to understand that others are just as important as yourself. While it keeps the teen melodrama aspect firm in hand, the series has much more thoughtful aspects under the surface that blossom with time.

If you know about anime, you've seen them… the faces that stretch on forever, the vertical line-eyes that stare into your soul. Or just the happy colourful anime where everyone has a favourite girl. Either way, Hidamari Sketch is one of the most well-known slice of life series, for good reason.

Yuno is moving away from home for the very first time, all to follow her dreams of becoming an artist. The prospect of living in Hidamari Apartments is scary at first, but Yuno quickly discovers that her neighbours are just as passionate about art and as much of an oddball as she is. Hell, her whole art school is full of weirdos.

Hidamari Sketch charms its way into your heart with its unusual but cute art style, bright colours and laid back atmosphere. It's a perfect dose of cute and even comes in plenty more series if you're left wanting for more.

Why it made the list: Hidamari Sketch is a pretty classic series in the slice of life subgenre. With an artistic presentation, comfortable atmosphere and minimal plot, it's an incredibly relaxing series that is more to watch when you need to wind down.

Watch if you like: Wideface, art, school setting, small cast of characters, relaxing, bright colours, short series, watching the sequels.

You can't think of slice of life anime without thinking of Azumanga Daioh, a classic comedy series about the everyday life of girls and cats.

High school is full of unusual kids, but the kids in Azumanga Daioh are especially so. When Ayumu transfers in from outside Tokyo, she's instantly given the name Osaka and is flocked by friends, from the energetic tomboy Tomo, to straight man Yomi, to child genius Chiyo, to the tall and distant Sakaki. There's never a dull day when these girls are on the scene and especially not so when their quirky teachers join in.

Azumanga Daioh is a mix of easy comedy, quirky slice of life and the feeling of being with your weird high school friends. It has the calming feel of a show about having fun with friends over the more fast-paced "must be funny" tone some other series have – and it's great for it.

Why it made the list: Azumanga Daioh is one series in a long line of high school slice of life comedies, but what it brings is a unique charm and something that leans a bit more towards nostalgic school days. The comedy is widely accessible and the characters charming in a way you don't often see.

Sequels can be a hit or miss; it can be hard to capture the same feel of the initial series, or the show could run away with its previous success. For K-On!! though, the second season keeps the same loveable aspects of the first while delving into new things.

The founding members of the Light Music Club are entering their final year of high school. While continuing band practice, club activities and the all-important tea time, the youngest member needs to come to terms that all her upperclassmen will be leaving at the end of the year.

K-On!! really focuses on the atmosphere and emotion surrounding graduation, slowly moving from a calming slice of life show about music and tea to a depiction of growing up one day at a time.

Why it made the list: K-On! is the essence of cute anime girls doing cute things. Although the first series is a fine watch for anyone into music, tea and girls, the second season really comes into its own as it starts incorporating the bittersweet feelings of high school graduation.

Our taste of the supernatural on this list comes in the form of Natsume Yuujinchou, the slice of life series where young boys, youkai and supernatural contacts come together.

Takashi Natsume can't see dead people, but he can see Japanese spirits known as youkai. After inheriting a book filled with the names of youkai, Natsume discovers that his grandmother used to defeat and bind youkai into contracts – contracts that none of the spirits are too happy about. With the resolve to end the book once and for all, Natsume goes about releasing and appeasing each youkai within.

Ntasume Yuujinchou has the calm thoughtfulness many slice of life series have. Instead of focusing on comedy or romance, the series focuses on understanding, one step at a time.

Why it made the list: As much as it's about youkai and setting things straight, Natsume Yuujinchou is about people and coming to understand how and why things happen the way they do. It's a calming and thoughtful series that has characters grow alongside each other, making it a great addition as a supernatural slice of life series.

On the more depressing side of slice of life is My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, also known as Oregairu.

Hikigaya is a guy who keeps to himself; he's cynical, anti-social and hates the masks everyone wears. More than anything, he's afraid of growing close to anyone because he knows he'll be hurt. When he's forced to join the Volunteer Service club with two other girls struggling through their teenage years, Hikigaya must deal with his classmates' mundane problems and lean about how everyone deals with life.

Oregairu is a more honest look into the everyday lives of teenagers. It doesn't gloss over anxieties or painful moments with a thick coat of comedy and sparkles, but it also doesn't wallow in despair. It's very much a show to learn and grow with Hikigaya more than it is something lightly entertaining.

Why it made the list: Oregairu is a complicated slice of life recommendation. On the one hand, it's a noticeable contrast to most of this list of lighthearted comedies and touching dramas; on the other, it captures the complicated feeling of teenage self-consciousness few other anime do. It's a slice of life romcom for all appearances but has an understanding heart beneath it all.

Watch if you like: Comedy, romance, school setting, some drama, isolated main characters, teenage years, growing up, not learning, short series, watching the second series.

Fulfilling the quirky, impossible everyday life part of this list is Nichijou: the most random, out-there, hilarious slice of life series this decade.

Yuuko, Mio and Mai are good friends in a town filled to the brim with odd characters. With wrestling-savvy school principals to an eight-year-old mad scientist, the people of the town live very ordinary lives… if ordinary means random explosions, talking cats and robot girls.

Nichijou is perhaps the strongest comedy anime on this list, with multiple skits per episode and enough jokes to appeal to any kind of audience. The slice of life aspect is as usual but the series really shines with comedy.

Why it made the list: Nichijou's joys are in detail and quirkiness. Jokes can be hit or miss simply because the show tackles so many different humours, but you're guaranteed something weird or unexpected and something thoroughly well animated.

If you're out of anime to watch when taking it easy, let the lazy panda and calm-speaking polar bear lull you into a relaxing reprieve while they serve coffee in Shirokuma Café.

Shirokuma, avid fan of puns, runs a café next to the local zoo. The place is incredibly popular with animals and humans alike, and manages to attract a variety of quirky characters. Among them are the lazy/cute Panda and lovestruck Penguin who frequently strike up a conversation with the proprietor about anything and everything.

Shirokuma Café is reminiscent of the days of childhood cartoons where animals made jokes and nothing too much happened, except this time it's in a favourite medium with even more animals and slightly more mature jokes.

Why it made the list: Shirokuma Café, in addition to featuring some well-known male voice actors, is one of the few series in this list made to appeal to women. It has the calm atmosphere of an afternoon at a café with the cute antics of quirky animals.

Watch if you like: Animals, cafés, bears, zoos, josei anime, long series, large cast of characters, relaxing, relatively few humans.

Bringing a dash of dark humour with your slice of life on this list is Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, the opposite of calming but not the opposite of funny.

Itoshiki Nozomu is a teacher on the edge. Every little thing puts his in ultimate despair that can only be resolved through death. Perhaps that's why he teaches a class of equally disturbed children who all have their own problems and quirks.

Although the premise seems bleak, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is all about comedy and parody. Rather than drama and true despair, you're in for some dark humour laughs.

Why it made the list: Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei's unusual and colourful approach to dark humour makes it stand out as an intriguing and funny series. Its episodic slice of life structure allows the show to parody normal situations and make them unusual.

Laid-back, light comedy shows are the cornerstone of slice of life anime, which is why Non Non Biyori rests at our number six spot for being the perfect combination of taking it easy and laughing it up.

Japan's countryside isn't exactly teeming with kids. That's why four school-aged girls all learn and laugh in one classroom in one giant, almost-empty school. The ups and downs of living in the sticks don't stop there, but with some imagination, exploring and the new kid from Tokyo, these kids pass each day with a smile.

Nothing is more slice of life than an episodic comedy show whose title loosely translates to "easygoing weather". Everything about Non Non Biyori supports a cool, relaxed, cheerful atmosphere along with the image of the Japanese countryside that even foreigners can feel nostalgic about.

Why it made the list: Non Non Biyori doesn't have a plot or drama or even an overarching message. It plays comedy and shenanigans with a lighthearted tune that can easily turn thoughtful or hilarious at a moment's notice. It's the feeling of relaxing outside on a warm summer day without the annoyance of anything that can get in the way, and for that it's a gem.

Watch if you like: The countryside, episodic anime, comedy, short series, small cast of characters, candy stores, sempai, friendship, school setting.

The second sequel to sneak its way onto this list, Aria the Natural is another series where the show comes into its stride and perfects what it tried to be the first time around.

By the 24th Century, Mars is covered with water and the city of Neo Venezia (New Venice) has been established. There, the majority of people travel via gondola and as such, business is booming. This is where Akari Mizunashi, a 15-year-old girl from Earth, strives to become an Undine – a capable tour guide and gondolier.

Aria the Natural is this list's dose of sci-fi/fantasy but also comes with a touch of the supernatural. Season two's focus on the world around the characters (while continuing to follow their journey) is a welcome addition and you're bound to be drawn into the world as much as you are with the characters.

Why it made the list: Aria is an interesting world on its own, and Aria the Natural expands upon it greatly, continuing Akari's journey but also looking at the world around her. It's a longer series that gives more of what made the first season great and goes into something more than striving to be the best.

It seems slice of life anime are all about the slower pace of the countryside compared to the city. Of course, it's not hard to see why the wide open space of the countryside is appealing, and is most of the motivation behind the next anime on this list.

Hachiken Yuugo has been rejected from his first choice of high school. After deciding he wants to skip town and be away from his parents for a while, Yuugo decides to enroll in an agricultural school outside the city. But while he thinks studying will solve any problems he might have, Yuugo isn't ready for the harsh life of a farmer – especially not when everyone around him is way more experienced.

Rather than a comedy show with endless jokes at Yuugo's expense, Gin no Saji is a series that encourages growth, friendship and learning. It's a show for the directionless in life and as you see Yuugo slowly grow and learn how to work with the people around him.

Why it made the list: Gin no Saji is an interesting slice of life anime that combines a light comedy school life story with the hardships of working and finding your goals. The combination of unique set-up and how the series deals with Yuugo's situation make it something you should watch if you also feel directionless in life.

If there is one slice of life series you need to watch about the everyday life of working as an adult, it needs to be Shirobako. Accept nothing else.

Ever since they completed an animation project in high school, Aoi and her friends have dreamed of working in the animation industry. While each of them pursue their specific industry goals, the girls find it hard to keep the passion they once had; work is demanding, unrewarding and sometimes doing your absolute best gets you nowhere. But with Aoi's connections and a big anime in the works, maybe they can all team up once more.

Shirobako is near soul-crushing in its sincere depiction of the lows in working, but its combination of oddball characters, anime passion and hopeful tone makes it something you need to see if you're remotely interested in how anime is made.

Why it made the list: Not only does Shironako explore the everyday life of working in anime, it weaves together a story of passion, hard work and eventual success that hits home for any creative type. It truly understands struggling adulthood but doesn't forget that it also needs to be fun.

Of the few romantic titles in this list, Toradora! has to make the cut. With such a smooth progression between genres to the strength of even the side characters, Toradora! is not only one of the top romance anime you should watch, but also a worthy romantic slice of life series.

Ryuuji and Taiga have something in common: they both look like someone you should avoid at all costs and they're both in love with the kindest person in their respective classes. Realising they have a common goal and a common setback, the two team up to help each other win the hearts of their classmates. But since when has love ever been that easy?

Toradora! has an incredible balance of genres. It moves from your standard romcom set-up to comedy slice of life and gradually gets more series as romance and drama step to the stage. There's a real feel of progression with this series, and the finale makes the journey entirely worth it.

Why it made the list: Toradora! is one of those romance shows that plays to your expectations, but only for a little bit. The series' focus is the characters and how they feel rather than what viewers could want, and in the end, progress is actually made and the story comes to a decision.

Making an unexpected appearance on this list is yuri gag manga turned anime: Yuru Yuri. While drawing out four-panel comic content and adapting to anime, Yuru Yuri is cuteness overload with a touch of girls love not often seen.

Friends Akari, Kyouko, Yui and Chinatsu are perpetual middle schoolers. While gathering under the pretense of being part of the Amusement Club, they pass their endless school days discussing current trends, fawning over girls and making fun of Akari. Nothing is too serious for these girls, not unless it's a fight for love.

Yuru Yuri has all the bright colours and soft designs of most cute girls doing cute things anime these days. It certainly plays into it a lot, but further series (and OVAs) give the characters and jokes more personality and charm. If you can get into the first series – and love the original content – it's worth the continuation to season three.

Why it made the list: Yuru Yuri is almost anime's answer to a girls-only Lucky Star. The atmosphere and nerdiness remain close between the two, but Yuru Yuri offers cute antics between girls who mostly love girls.

On the more realistic side of otaku life, we have Genshiken, the anime about slightly older otaku who go about their nerdy daily life.

"Otaku" doesn't quite mean the same thing in Japan as it does elsewhere. That's why college freshman Kanji is reluctant to let the members of The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture(Genshiken)know just what he's into. But with time and some equally nerdy members, Kanji begins to see that what he loves is nothing to be ashamed of and opens up to the world of otaku.

Of the few daily life of otaku anime on this list, Genshiken is by far the most realistic. It knows just how real nerds live with their love of "childish" things but continues on with daily life anyway, making the series a welcome watch for viewers dealing with the same things.

Why it made the list: Genshiken is your answer to a realistic show about the everyday joys and struggles of being an anime nerd. It's very much a series that has a feel of friendship and acceptance to it, where the comedy isn't about laughing at characters and the overall tone is not dramatic.

If you thought the going to Australia part in Free! was the most English ever spoken in an anime, Kiniro Mosaic beats it hands-down. It's also an adorable slice of life show about cultural differences, friendship and hellos.

All it took for Shinobu to fall in love with the West and blonde hair was a single homestay in England. Ever since meeting Alice as a child, Shinobu has dreamed of becoming an interpreter and being smothered by blonde hair. Except… the only English word she knows is "hello" and she just can't seem to pass her language tests. When Alice moves to Japan to live with Shinobu, her resolve toughens and she one again strives to be better at English.

There's something incredibly interesting about Kiniro Mosaic when watching it as a Westerner. It's not a commentary on culture but rather a big cutsey love letter to England where slice of life and comedy meets cultural exchange and learning.

Why it made the list: Kiniro Mosaic is indeed another cute comedy slice of life show, except that it revolves around the rare and elusive "westaboo": someone who has an insatiable love for all things Western. With the show's ample amounts of how Japan sees the West and accented English, it makes for something cute and fluffy to watch that is a little different from the norm.

When not studying or lazing around, people spend their days working, and the industry that perhaps attracts the most workers is the hospitality industry, which is where we find the aptly name Working!! anime.

Family restaurant Wagnaria is home to a whole host of eccentric employees who are somehow able to keep the business running. Their newest recruit is Souta Takanashi, a 16-year-old high school student who has a major weak spot for cute things. Together the team clashes and works together, somehow pulling through to see another day.

Working!! takes a while to start up and get to some truly funny moments, but if you're hanging out for a series with quirky characters pulling through to get by (with a touch of romance and maybe some drama), Working!! is a fair addition to your to-watch list.

Why it made the list: Working!! is your look into the more unusual aspects of the workforce, where comedy is key and the more unusual characters are, the more hilarious they are together. For slice of life shenanigans it has a fun place, but don't expect to come away any wiser about how working in a restaurant is supposed to be.

Anime References: The Anime makes an appearance at our number eight spot as 2007's popular slice of life comedy that knows what being anime-crazy is all about.

Eighteen-year-old Konata is a serious otaku. She lives and breathes anime, manga and games to the point where her whole life is infinite otaku works. But with endless nerdy obsessions is an endless well of jokes as Konata references everything under the sun to make her and her friends laugh.

A series to watch when you've seen a fair share of anime, Lucky Star is still strong when it comes to skits, comedy and slice of life. It takes a slightly different look at the everyday life of an anime nerd, and for that it stands out.

Why it made the list: Lucky Star can be one of those all-in or all-out series. Its referential comedy numbers in the hundreds per episode, its slice of life moments can be downright too mundane and not every joke may hit your mark. But for slice of life comedies strong on parody, Lucky Star is the victor.

College is a complicated time in life where the easygoing fun times of high school gives way to something quietly anxious about the future. Honey and Clover's college setting lets slightly older audiences get a feel for life growing up but keeps to slice of life's general calm atmosphere.

Fife college art students get by in their small shared apartment as they navigate the new world of life after school. It's generally easygoing until the addition of Hagumi shifts the group's dynamic, changing them in subtle ways and putting them on a path where someone's feelings could be hurt if they're not careful.

Along with Honey and Clover's graduated setting is a more mature tone, looking at romance through the eyes of a college student rather than a highschooler. While there's nothing boring about its slice of life progression, there's a calmer feeling about the series that separates it from the busier romantic drama aimed at younger audiences.

Why it made the list: Despite dealing with the awkward transition to adulthood and a potentially dramatic romantic plot, Honey and Clover takes it easy as college students do. Its mature tone and slow pacing lets you take everything in.

Next on our list is romcom great School Rumble, the comedy-heavy anime that can appeal to guys and girls, and maybe even some clueless people.

Tenma is as good-natured as all protagonists are, but she's incredibly clueless and only understands her love for Ouji. Ouji, on the other hand, is an eccentric guy bordering on crazy who has a talent for almost everything but doesn't show much emotion. Between these two stands the intimidating ex-delinquent Kanji who just can't bring himself to tell Tenma about his feelings for her. This is their story.

While you might think the series dives into a dramafest (or goes for the suddenly violent delinquent route?), it's comedy all the way with School Rumble. Every day is a new misunderstanding or minor love drama, making this a romcom slice of life series with a very slow burn.

Why it made the list: School Rumble is a slice of life romcom that's heavier on the com than the rom. It's an enjoyable series for how everyone interacts and how the jokes are set up, but don't go into it thinking there will be a definite romantic ending.

With the majority of titles on this list being about cute girls or just plain forgetting about male characters, Daily Lives of High School Boys knows exactly what slice of life needs: guys being guys.

Like the male equivalent of Nichijou (2011), Daily Lives of High School Boys features a number of skits and jokes centered around three friends – Hidenori, Yoshitake and Tadakuni – as they go about their daily lives to and from school. Their lives may not be that deeply interesting, but they know how to make the day fun.

While not as quirky as Nichijou, Daily Lives of High School Boys has its own brand of humour, with plenty of guy jokes, parody and just plain weird stuff happening every episode.

Why it made the list: Daily Lives of High School Boys really gets what being a high school boy is all about and has a pretty nostalgic feel for the days when you would mess around with friends. Sometimes it's weird, sometimes it's gross and sometimes its parodies are on-point and that's what makes the series so great.

Watch if you like: School setting, playing around with your friends, parodies, short series, lots of guys, reaction face humour, manliness.